Can I get Vitamin D from a tanning bed?!

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Yes you can get vitamin D from a tanning bed in the exact same way that you do from the sun. The skin synthesises UVB which is then converted into vitamin D. As long as the tanning lamps have a UVB component then you will be getting vitamin D.

If you are going to use a tanning bed just follow a few simple rules to ensure you are doing it responsibly:
If you answered no to both questions then all you need to do is follow a few simple rules to ensure you are tanning responsibly.
- Start out on the smallest time possible, even if it is only 3 minutes.
- Build up your tanning time slowly, increasing your tanning time in one minute increments.
- Don't go more often than once every two days.
- If you are still red more than 24 hours later then you were in for too long and you need to reduce your tanning time.

So the idea is to allow your skin to get used to the UV exposure gradually, that's why you start out small and build up slow. You also need to give your skin time to replenish between tanning sessions so don't go more often than once every two days. The main point is that you want to avoid burning yourself so if you are still red more than 24 hours later then you were in for too long and need to reduce your time.

Both the sun and tanning beds emit two types of ultraviolet light rays, UVA and UVB. The skin absorbs both types, but in different ways. UVA rays have longer wavelengths that penetrate into the deepest layers of the skin, whereas UVB rays’ wavelengths are short and only reach the surface layers of skin. Both types of rays contribute to the health risks associated with excessive sun exposure, such as the risk of developing skin cancers. However, UVB rays also trigger the synthesis of the vitamin D precursor in the skin, and thus are solely responsible for the healthy benefits of sunshine. For most people, exposing one’s arms and face to sunshine for about 20 minutes per day provides the skin with enough UVB rays to eliminate vitamin D deficiencies, without causing long-term damage to the skin.

However, while UVB rays account for the health benefits of sunshine, tanning salons are more interested in UVA rays. This is because overexposure to UVB rays, which affect the surface layers of skin, quickly causes sunburns. On the other hand, UVA rays are responsible for the golden-brown tan sought after by most salon patrons. As a result, most tanning salons calibrate their tanning beds to emit approximately 95 percent UVA rays. This calibration maximizes the tanning effects of the machine and minimizes the risk of burning. Unfortunately, it also minimizes the amount of vitamin D that can be metabolized relative to the exposure to damaging ultraviolet rays.

In theory, a tanning bed can be calibrated to emit a greater percentage of UVB rays. However, it is important to remember that the safety of exposure to either type of ultraviolet rays depends upon its moderation. Most people do not enter tanning beds wearing pants and T-shirts, and exposing too much surface area of the skin can quickly result in excessive absorption of ultraviolet light rays

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No but you can get cancer and age your skin. Take a vitamin D or sit in the sun for 20 minutes.